It is understandable that many believe low credit scores effectively ensure dreams of buying your own home are binned. It seems illogical any mortgage provider would entrust the task of repaying hundreds of thousands of dollars to anyone with a poor credit history. But actually, it is possible to get home loans with bad credit.
The biggest problem is not the particular credit rating an applicant has, but the ability to repay each month and the debt-to-income ratio that dictates what is affordable. These are the issues to worry about, before factoring in fast mortgage approval and other apparent advantages.
But how can a bad credit borrower qualify for a home loan? And what are the typical terms that they need to accept? And depending on who they secure it from, are these the best mortgages available for the savings and flexibility they can enjoy.
Qualifying for a Home Loan
The criteria required to get a home loan with bad credit is not a million miles from those necessary to secure a mortgage with excellent credit. The basic requirements are to be over 18, have a full-time job and be a US citizen (or legal long-term resident).
Without meeting these criteria, applicants have no chance of securing approval at all. The second stage of the process involves the assessment of income and employment status, and most importantly, how much money is available to commit to repayments. These determine whether fast mortgage approval can be secured or not.
Of course, fast approval is not overnight. Normally, a home loan is processed over 90 days, so fast is considered anywhere between 30 and 60 days. If everything is in order, and clearly displayed, then mortgage providers may give the green light in that time.
Terms to Accept
Having a less-than-perfect credit score means the terms of any loan are not going to be ideal. So, when seeking a home loan with bad credit scores to your name, expect higher interest rates and less flexible repayment schedules. Unfortunately, this is detrimental to the affordability of the mortgage.
However, there are choices. Interest rates come as fixed or variable, and the combination of both can help to make the deal more affordable. And, while it may not be especially fast, mortgage approval can at least be very likely when the loan term is longer, thus reducing the size of the monthly repayments.
The debt-to-income ratio is the key, with its 40:60 rate meaning only 40% of available income can be committed to repaying the home loan. So, even with ,000 excess income to hand, the repayments can be no more than 0 per month. Lowering existing debts and increasing credit scores can improve the ratio.
Advantages to Look Forward To
So why bother improving scores and clearing debts in advance of taking on a huge debt? Well, anyone who has ever wanted to own their own home can answer that question. Securing a home loan with bad credit is not easy, so any opportunity to help make it possible to buy affordably is worth seizing.
These mortgages were introduced to allow bad credit borrowers buy their homes, but also to ensure the property market did not collapse completely. So, there are advantages to be enjoyed, even if fast mortgage approval is a matter of 60 days.
If nothing else, adhering to the repayment schedule causes considerable improvement to credit scores, thus helping the borrower towards a financial recovery. So, a home loan, even if the terms are not ideal, can be worth the commitment in the long run.
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